Pats Pulpit - Patriots vs. Bengals: News, analysis, injuries, previews, final score, and morePats Pulpit: A New England Patriots Communityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51321/pp-fav.png2022-12-29T07:00:00-05:00http://www.patspulpit.com/rss/stream/232863182022-12-29T07:00:00-05:002022-12-29T07:00:00-05:00Route spacing not ‘a major problem’ for Patriots offense, says receivers coach Troy Brown
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<img alt="Cincinnati Bengals v New England Patriots" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WevP9S1g4eOyjjm6ak-KRFQ8oHI=/1685x447:6000x3324/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71802530/1452540196.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Nick Grace/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/28/23529125/patriots-film-review-bengals-nfl-week-16-mac-jones">Patriots film review: Design and execution hurt New England’s offense against Bengals</a></p> <p id="QzXkNV">The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a>’ first drive against the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> came to a quick end. Facing a 3rd-and-4 from their own 32-yard line, Mac Jones was flushed out of the pocket before eventually being taken down well short of the sticks.</p>
<p id="wEJGPM">The main breakdown on the play happened down the field, though.</p>
<p id="1OEdgO">Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith ran into one another in their routes, taking both out of the play and leaving Henry with a game-ending knee injury. The two tight ends colliding was just the latest instance of the Patriots’ patterns seemingly getting too close to one another — and not the only one: on several plays against Cincinnati, two pass catchers found themselves in the same basic area.</p>
<p id="gGiDpF">The issue is not a new one for the New England offense either. Route spacing was already discussed as a point of emphasis during the team’s Week 10 bye, but at least judged on Saturday’s game it appears not much progress has been made.</p>
<p id="OvZkwM">For wide receivers coach Troy Brown, however, the problem is not as prominent as it might seem.</p>
<p id="tQdpBp">“Sometimes the details may be a little off, but I wouldn’t say it’s something that’s been a major problem for us,” he told reporters this week. “Sometimes the details may be a little bit off, but that happens. I watch film all the time. It happens to just about every team around the league from time to time. Obviously, you want to go out there and be perfect. Detail mistakes aren’t acceptable. We do everything we can to get them corrected.”</p>
<p id="Dl00eH">The spacing was again in the spotlight in the second quarter, with Kendrick Bourne and Smith coming too close to one another on an incomplete third down. In the fourth quarter, the two crossed paths again while trying to execute a a variation of New England’s Razor concept. The play ended with Smith suffering a head injury that forced him from the game.</p>
<p id="lXorb5">Plays are obviously not designed to have players run into one another, but it appears the Patriots leave little leeway for the pass catchers if they don’t execute the concepts to perfection.</p>
<p id="Armyhv">Execution in general has been a problem for New England’s offense, as quarterbacks coach Joe Judge pointed out.</p>
<p id="u0BbXO">“Obviously we have to execute better, put ourselves in a better position,” he said. “There were some plays early in the game that weren’t executed the way we needed to. We have to coach better, we have to execute as players better. We have to make sure to put ourselves in position not to be behind with that kind of a deficit going into the second half. Obviously, we cleaned that up as we went through the game and got the results we’re looking for but we can’t start off that slow.”</p>
<p id="HNMZ9e">The Patriots fell behind 22-0 against the Bengals before a second-half rally that put them within four points of their opponent. Ultimately, however, they came up short and fell to 7-8 on the year.</p>
<p id="NFuB51">Spacing itself was not the only issue contributing to the loss, but with 15 games now in the books it remains one of several areas that needs cleaning up — something offensive play-caller Matt Patricia himself acknowledged this week.</p>
<p id="8KbKZo">“It’s definitely something you don’t want to have happen during the game,” he said on Tuesday. “You have to get it fixed.”</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/29/23530636/route-spacing-not-a-major-problem-patriots-offense-troy-brownBernd Buchmasser2022-12-28T07:00:00-05:002022-12-28T07:00:00-05:00Patriots film review: Design and execution hurt New England’s offense against Bengals
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<figcaption>Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Patriots made it close in the end, but their first-half issues prevented them from winning in Week 16.</p> <p id="z10NV1">The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> came close to completing a comeback attempt against the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> in Week 17. After finding themselves in a 22-0 hole at the half, they were able to flip the switch in the third and fourth quarters.</p>
<p id="3RQ5tm">With a 69-yard interception return touchdown as the catalyst, the Patriots began chipping away at their deficit. However, down 22-18 and five yards from the opposing end zone inside the two-minute warning a Rhamondre Stevenson fumble ended their hopes for a comeback and, in turn, eighth win of the season.</p>
<p id="vs8wMv">The ending was another disappointing one for the team, but the Patriots’ first-half performance left them room for mistakes at the end. So, with that said, let’s dive into the film from the contest to find out what went wrong, what went right, and what New England can learn heading into a pivotal two-game stretch to close out the regular season.</p>
<h2 id="PvjMun">Offense</h2>
<p id="15Q4zh">The Patriots offense continues to be an enigma. Before going on a solid rally that saw two touchdown drives before the heartbreaking finale, the unit looked incapable of executing even standard concepts and putting any pressure on an above-average NFL defense.</p>
<p id="yVOruf">For a team still in the hunt for a playoff spot, the first two quarters were nothing short of bad — and most definitely not postseason-worthy. So, what was the problem? There were two basic issues: play design and execution.</p>
<p id="BLDgTX">The Patriots’ first third down of the game, a 3rd-and-4 from the New England 32, was a sign of things to come. The unit was in for a bumpy ride.</p>
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<p id="YvjWoB">There are several issues on this play. The first is the depth of the routes: with New England needing just four yards to move the chains, only one pattern — that of running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) into the left-side flat — is targeting the sticks; the others all go deep and need more time to develop.</p>
<p id="5EuHRI">Another obvious problem is that two of those routes collided. Jonnu Smith (81) and Hunter Henry (85) ran into one another in their routes, leaving the latter on the ground with a game-ending knee injury. What was to blame for the collision is anybody’s guess. One of the two tight ends might not have run the correct route, or the timing might have been messed up.</p>
<p id="duStIF">However, it appears entirely possible that the collision could very well have been the result of a design flaw. After all, the Patriots had several plays were players were too close together. throughout the game.</p>
<p id="jzahak">Take the following 3rd-and-6 from the second period:</p>
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<p id="uKM7lZ">Different play, same problem. On this one, Jonnu Smith (81) and Kendrick Bourne (84) nearly run into each other. The tight end settles at a depth of six yards into his route, which is exactly where Bourne is crossing the formation.</p>
<p id="2oBbex">Then, in the fourth quarter, Smith again was involved in a close-call play. This one ended with him suffering a head injury that knocked him out for the remainder of the game:</p>
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<p id="T3tgAk">Here, Smith (81) and Bourne (84) are running what appears to be a variation of New England’s Razor concept. You have one player running an out route and the other an in a little deeper down the field. Against the Bengals, however, the two teammates nearly collided because Smith ran it at a depth of five yards and Bourne at four.</p>
<p id="hWmAv9">For comparison, the Razor concept looks like this with the in at either 14 or 12 yards depending on the pre-snap motion. The out, meanwhile, is set at 10 yards down the field:</p>
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<p id="epmvAB">Those spacing flaws were not the only thing plaguing New England, especially in the first half. As noted above, execution also was a problem; look no further than Tyquan Thornton’s drop on a beautifully executed deep ball down the right sideline.</p>
<p id="JGAUXx">While that play catches the eye, it was not the only example of unsatisfactory execution. Take the blocking up front.</p>
<p id="cj8Vk3">The left side of the offensive line was pretty leaky against the Bengals’ front. The duo of tackle Trent Brown and guard Cole Strange struggled versus twists and stunts, with Strange losing twice on double swipe moves versus Cam Sample (an issue for him all season). Brown, meanwhile, gave up the edge on a pair of reps where defenders managed to knock down his hands.</p>
<p id="tooPv2">There also appeared to be several communication breakdowns when Cincinnati showed blitz. There were multiple occasions on Saturday where New England wound up with multiple people accounting for one defender and in turn leaving others unblocked.</p>
<p id="Vs4SJ7">The most glaring example of a communication miscue happened on a 3rd-and-6 in the late first quarter, though:</p>
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<p id="I0Pzxj">On this play, Mac Jones (10) sees the Bengals show heavy pressure and tries to take advantage by signaling his teammates at the top to run a screen. However, while all three of them went into blocking mode nobody ran a route behind them. If it was the quarterback not clearly communicating his intentions, or the receivers not picking things up correctly does not matter: the play broke down because the two parties were not on the same page.</p>
<p id="dQ2Mci">To make matters worse, there would have been an opportunity for Jones to fit the ball in for Jakobi Meyers (16) had the two been on the same page. Alas, it was not meant to be.</p>
<p id="lZMXBS">Of course, we don’t want to go all doom-and-gloom here. So, let’s also quickly touch on a few positives — mainly from the second half.</p>
<p id="yzR8Ii"><em>Mac Jones:</em> The communication errors might have been on him, but when it comes to throwing the football and making decisions Jones looked good against Cincinnati. He also threw some of the best passes of his season on Saturday, including the one to Tyquan Thornton that was dropped and two completions to Kendrick Bourne: a 19-yard pickup on the final play of the third quarter, and a 28-yard gain in the fourth that saw the QB zip the throw into the tightest of window. From a film perspective there was no reason to chant for backup Bailey Zappe to enter the game.</p>
<p id="R2p3Ss"><em>Kendrick Bourne:</em> The wideout had by far his best game of the season, finishing with a team-high 100 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. He also had a 29-yard run, showing what he can do with the ball in his hands. Bourne was on the receiving end of those two Mac Jones throws mentioned above.</p>
<p id="rWGGc6"><em>Conor McDermott:</em> The in-season pickup via the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a>’ practice squad had his best game as a Patriot on Saturday. he was solid versus Bengals edges Cam Sample and Joseph Ossai despite spending the game on an island.</p>
<p id="lO1QVN"><em>A taste of no-huddle:</em> The Patriots wanted to go quick early on, and it made sense given the Bengals’ struggles against up-tempo looks. The losses of Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith changed the approach — the two tight end package appeared to be a prominent part of the game plan — but it was nice to see the unit try something relatively seldom used for once.</p>
<p id="VvYXnY">All in all, though, the game as a whole was another disappointing outing for the unit. While it did get New England on the brink of victory, it ultimately finished with just two touchdowns and did not cross midfield until late in the third quarter.</p>
<p id="D1Z3Iv">That is not a winning formula, and leaving a defense out to dry that is playing quality football.</p>
<h2 id="PIu4gX">Defense</h2>
<p id="dTGjOX">The Bengals game was a tale of two halves for the New England defense. It gave up 22 points and 303 yards in the first two quarters, before holding Cincinnati scoreless and to 139 yards in the third and fourth periods.</p>
<p id="P8NvZL">What changed for the unit at halftime? Not a lot from a schematic perspective, but it was able to execute at a higher level and match its pressure looks and coverages more smoothly.</p>
<p id="TB88Ys">In general, New England showed a lot of respect for Cincinnati’s outstanding receiving duo, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The team played more Cover 2 than it has in years while also mixing in wrinkles like disguises (Cover 1, Cover 3, Cover 0), half-field inverts, and some man principles. The secondary also had good depth in its drops, with Bengals QB Joe Burrow wisely leaning on check-downs and throws to the flat.</p>
<p id="Gl7SCD">Besides those plays, another go-to that worked well for the Bengals versus these Cover 2 looks were slants to the big-bodied receivers. They were able to get chunks of yards on three different slant targets — including the following:</p>
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<p id="hqHTDz">Here, Joe Burrow (9) and Ja’Marr Chase (1) are playing simple pitch-and-catch. The wideout is able to gain inside leverage, and the quarterback has an open throwing lane because New England slot cornerback Myles Bryant (27) cannot get over fast enough from his jam to disrupt the throw.</p>
<p id="4a1K44">Chase and Tee Higgins proved themselves challenging matchups throughout the day: Chase had eight catches for 79 yards, while Higgins had eight reception of his own for 128 and a touchdown.</p>
<p id="MtNxEF">One of the problems for New England was the size advantage the two had over the defensive backs — a clear sign that the Patriots should be in the market for a big-bodied corner come the offseason (even with 6-foot-0 Jalen Mills and 6-foot-1 Shaun Wade on the roster). That does not mean the outcome of Saturday’s game would have been any different, but matching up 5-foot-8 Marcus Jones against 6-foot-4 Tee Higgins is asking for trouble.</p>
<p id="V81yqv">The Bengals smartly went after those favorable matchups, with Burrow giving his receivers chances to out-leap their opponents:</p>
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<p id="HECW9P">Marcus Jones was not the only defensive back struggling at times, though. Jonathan Jones also had a shaky performance in a tough matchup versus Chase and Higgins. While the Patriots’ nominal CB1 did force a pass breakup and a couple one-handed catch attempts downfield, it did feel like Cincinnati’s receivers could have executed better; Jones was also shaken badly at the top of a few routes.</p>
<p id="b1YqDS">The second half was better for both Joneses (or all three if you include New England’s quarterback), because the entire defensive structure looked more sound. It all started up front, with the Patriots challenging the Bengals offensive line with stunts and simulated pressure packages.</p>
<p id="UcO4Yh">The team also used pass rusher Josh Uche in a myriad of ways to create different looks:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Josh Uche stood over/next to the center on a few pass rush snaps vs CIN<br><br>1. Helped spring Judon on a stunt, but Burrow escaped after Barmore was knocked inside<br><br>2. Drew a double inside with CIN's RB and TE chipping each edge<br><br>3. Seemed to attempt a stunt with Judon behind him <a href="https://t.co/ItQBgLrpkH">pic.twitter.com/ItQBgLrpkH</a></p>— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) <a href="https://twitter.com/tkyles39/status/1607541592872869888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2022</a>
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<p id="5kVKRf">Additionally, New England play-caller Steve Belichick also toyed with blitz packages. And while the team mostly backed out of those, the one time it did not it led to the biggest defensive play of the game:</p>
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<p id="Qhjuk7">Marcus Jones’ 69-yard pick-six in the late third quarter was a masterful call by Belichick. After using those aforementioned simulated pressure looks at times, he brought the house on this one: a six-man blitz that saw safety Kyle Dugger (23) get free up the gut and defensive tackle Christian Barmore (90) drop out into the underneath zone.</p>
<p id="dmIGX1">The Patriots successfully muddied the waters with this package, and it forced Burrow to throw up a floater that was picked off by Jones (25). The electric return man than proceeded to do what he does: run back the ball, elude some tackle attempts, and make a big play.</p>
<p id="vJHuW9">Jones deserves to be praised for the return, but he also made a smart play pre-snap. After giving up a deep out to Ja’Marr Chase (1) while playing soft with inside leverage, Jones played the same technique knowing the ball needed to come out quickly versus Cover 0.</p>
<p id="UQBFuY">Overall, the game against Cincinnati showed that the Patriots have a playoff-caliber defense. The Bengals are extremely talented and well-coached on the offensive side of the ball, but New England has enough playmakers in its own right to keep up with a team like that.</p>
<p id="w8lm8z">Furthermore, they adjusted very well to what the Bengals were doing well. That alone is a reason for optimism, especially considering all the young players contributing.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/28/23529125/patriots-film-review-bengals-nfl-week-16-mac-jonesTaylor KylesBernd Buchmasser2022-12-28T05:30:00-05:002022-12-28T05:30:00-05:00Kendrick Bourne ends Week 16 as PFF’s highest graded wide receiver
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<img alt="Cincinnati Bengals (22) Vs. New England Patriots (18) At Gillette Stadium" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lWeo1gFFRly_SHxYntsLx8DvOCQ=/1264x408:4627x2650/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71798806/1245841630.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="IEoBXW"><a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> wide receiver Kendrick Bourne had a productive day in Week 16 against the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a>. In what was by far his best game of the season, Bourne caught six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown and also added 29 yards on a run.</p>
<p id="SABw8e">As a result of his production, he was graded as the best wideout in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-social-media-video-podcasts/2022/12/28/23529115/patriots-kendrick-bourne-highest-graded-wide-receiver-week-16Bernd Buchmasser2022-12-27T14:48:09-05:002022-12-27T14:48:09-05:00Matt Patricia explains Patriots’ third-down struggles against Cincinnati
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<figcaption>Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><strong>NFL playoff picture:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/27/23527711/nfl-playoff-picture-patriots-6-teams-fighting-for-1-wild-card-spot">Patriots among six teams fighting for one wild card spot</a></p> <p id="AY6e1p">As the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> marched up and down the field with three straight scoring drives to start Saturday’s game, New England’s offense could not extend a drive past three plays.</p>
<p id="BNdYw7">Excluding the last drive of the first half where the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> completed one pass before taking a knee to enter halftime, New England punted the ball on their first six possessions Saturday. Three of those drives featured three-and-outs, including the first two possessions of the game.</p>
<p id="sQr7Dn">On the opening third-down of the day, New England’s offense faced a third-and-four. Despite needing just four yards, New England dialed up a downfield concept which resulted in no open receivers. To make matters worse, tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith collided, injuring Henry and taking an open Smith out of the play.</p>
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<p id="Q6Qg1v">The play summarized much of the struggles the Patriots offense has battled with this season: Poor design from the staff and bad execution from the players.</p>
<p id="SeQOWd">“We had a couple mistakes on the play,” Bill Belichick said Monday morning. “It’s not the play we were trying to run.”</p>
<p id="oDmHrE">Speaking with reporters Tuesday morning, de facto offensive coordinator Matt Patricia uttered a similar message.</p>
<p id="zjdsrx">“The first third-down, we usually go in on third-downs we have typically a couple different options on the play depending on the coverage we’re going to see,” he said. “And Cincy had a couple different packages they run both vs. a nickel defense and dime defense. When we went into that play we had a really good play that we practiced and thought we had a couple good options on it. I think we saw the play a little bit different on the field and got to just clean that up from that standpoint.”</p>
<p id="m46SKz">The next third-down was not much better. With Cincinnati showing pressure, Mac Jones can be seen making a signal to audible to a screen. However, the year-long communication issues continue as it appears Jakobi Meyers does not pick up the audible. Jones is left with no option besides throwing the ball at Rhamondre Stevenson’s feet.</p>
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<p id="65XWjV">“Just a little bit of a miscommunication,” Jones explained Monday on WEEI. “Things that we kind of talk through and want to get fixed. But, as a quarterback we just got to make sure everyone is on the same page. … Obviously didn’t do a good job there.”</p>
<p id="BkmtLJ">Coming out in the second half, New England found more success on third-down. After two opening second half punts, the Patriots put together an 11- and seven-play scoring drive that featured five third-down conversions - two resulting in touchdowns.</p>
<p id="AqdL0y">While the numbers were better, the conversions were more of just Mac Jones and Kendrick Bourne making plays, however. The Hail Mary touchdown to Jakobi Meyers was also one of third-down conversions.</p>
<p id="iI3sRe">“Certainly, I think those plays came up later in the game and we executed them well, later in the game,” Patricia said. “We obviously didn’t do a very good job on third-down in the first half, trying to get a feel for some of the different looks they had. Came out in the second half and think we went 6-for-6 to start the second half - somewhere around the end. </p>
<p id="Lq7S3y">“So we got a lot of that cleaned up at halftime, some of the different packages they had, the people in positions that they had them in. Cause that was a little - as we were going into the game unsure maybe of what those matchups would be and we got some of that corrected.” </p>
<p id="6JxEq1">But, as the Patriots were quickly on and off the field to start the game, Cincinnati was able to quickly build a 22-0 lead by half time. That lead proved to be unsurmountable as New England’s comeback efforts fell short late in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 22-18 defeat.</p>
<p id="oc4mX3">“Not the way you want to start, certainly, from that aspect of it,” Patricia said Tuesday. “When you have those plays designed and dialed up ready to go. I was glad we got them fixed and we were able to execute them better in the second half. We got to start better than that though in order to give ourselves a better chance.”</p>
<p id="ehzvHC">The third-downs struggles are nothing new for New England, as they have hampered the offense all season long. On the year, the offense ranks 26th in the league in third-down efficiency, while also ranking 29th in first downs per game.</p>
<p id="xWAvkw">New England will hope they can carry the second-half success against Cincinnati over to the last two weeks of the season as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive.</p>
<p id="BvuPJW">“I think third-down this week was better than what it’s been,” Patricia said. “It’s definitely something that you don’t want to have happen during the game and you got to get it fixed. What happens on third down, I’d say a lot of times, is third-down is the one down that’s very specific based not he defenses packages that come in. A lot of times on early downs you get a lot of zone coverages, maybe one particular man coverage. </p>
<p id="Vfnr0a">“[Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo] does a good job with his defense and has a lot similarities to our defense in some of the coverages they run and the pressures. We just got to do a better job of recognizing those and going out and executing it when it comes up.”</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/27/23528239/matt-patricia-explains-patriots-third-down-struggles-cincinnatiBrian Hines2022-12-27T14:00:00-05:002022-12-27T14:00:00-05:00Patriots vs. Bengals rookie review: It’s the Marcus Jones show once again
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<img alt="NFL: DEC 24 Bengals at Patriots" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/p4D0oUV-KuulHyax887dK-NvK6s=/423x98:3432x2104/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71798091/1245830418.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/26/23526579/patriots-rookie-marcus-jones-most-unique-player-in-the-nfl">Patriots rookie Marcus Jones is the most unique weapon in the NFL right now</a></p> <p id="38YLK8">The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> suffered another heartbreaking defeat in Week 16 against the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a>, seeing a comeback attempt fall just short. Like the Patriots’ other games this season, this 22-18 loss also saw considerable contributions from the team’s rookie class.</p>
<p id="uVtdkz">Let’s quickly go through all of the first-year players currently on the team to find out how they performed against the Raiders. As always, we will start with first-round draft pick Cole Strange and move all the way down to the undrafted free agents.</p>
<p id="Ap8s6S"><strong>G Cole Strange (1-29):</strong> The Patriots’ first-round pick went wire-to-wire once more, playing all 56 offensive snaps at left guard. As opposed to the last few games, however, Strange was a bit more inconsistent as both a run blocker and a pass protector — leading to several breakdowns in either phase. His effort was again exemplary, but his success rate was a bit up-and-down throughout the day.</p>
<p id="oHvPMc"><strong>WR Tyquan Thornton (2-50):</strong> With DeVante Parker still absent due to a concussion suffered in Week 14, the Patriots relied heavily on Thornton as their X-receiver of choice. But despite playing 52 offensive snaps (93%), the second-round pick was rather quiet. He had one 8-yard grab, while his most prominent play was arguably him dropping a perfect bomb from Mac Jones down the right sideline.</p>
<p id="qySML2"><strong>CB/KR/PR/WR Marcus Jones (3-85):</strong> Marcus Jones once again put on a show on Saturday. The hyper-versatile third-round rookie again saw action in three phases. Not only did he play three snaps on offense (5%) and catch a 15-yard pass, he also registered nine snaps on special teams (36%) to finish with two punt and three kickoff returns. His most prominent contributions, however, came on defense: playing 75 snaps in a starting capacity (90%), Jones registered both an interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery.</p>
<p id="MN4kcG"><strong>CB Jack Jones (4-121):</strong> Jones did practice throughout the week after suffering a knee injury in Week 14 against Arizona, but he ultimately did not take the field versus the Bengals. The Patriots ruled him out 90 minutes before kickoff, forcing him to sit out a second straight game.</p>
<p id="L63wtQ"><strong>RB/KR Pierre Strong Jr. (4-127):</strong> Despite playing some encouraging football in back-to-back weeks, the Patriots gave Strong Jr. only limited opportunities on Saturday. He was on the field for just two offensive snaps (4%), but did finish with a pair of catches for 10 total yards. The South Dakota State product was quite active on special teams, though. Not only did he play 10 snaps in the kicking game (40%), he also returned a pair of kickoffs (for a 23.0-yard average) and registered a tackle.</p>
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<p id="8NaLrL"><strong>QB Bailey Zappe (4-137):</strong> Despite “Zappe” chants erupting at multiple points in the first half, the Patriots stuck with Mac Jones. This once again meant that the fourth-round pick would remain on the sidelines, and it appears that he will not return to the lineup anytime soon.</p>
<p id="F6nXYT"><strong>RB Kevin Harris (6-183):</strong> Despite Damien Harris being out, Harris played a small role against Cincinnati. He was on the field for just four snaps all day (7%), finishing with one 3-yard carry. Those four reps were still enough to out-snap fellow rookie Pierre Strong Jr., but neither rookie had much of an impact on the offense.</p>
<p id="40U6uL"><strong>DT Sam Roberts (6-200):</strong> For the third straight game and 10th overall this season, the Patriots decided against making Roberts active. The sixth-round rookie was a healthy scratch against the Bengals yet again.</p>
<p id="G5TIj0"><strong>S/ST Brenden Schooler (UDFA):</strong> Schooler suffered a shoulder injury on the game’s opening kickoff and had to miss a couple of snaps as a result. However, he did finish the game in his usual capacity as a core presence on special teams. The undrafted rookie ended up playing 20 snaps (80%) while spending time on the punt return and coverage, kickoff return and coverage, and place kick blocking team.</p>
<p id="DeQ0R8"><strong>LB/ST DaMarcus Mitchell (UDFA):</strong> Playing 22 snaps in the game’s third phase (88%), Mitchell ranked second on the team behind only Matthew Slater. He was once again used on five kicking game units — punt return and coverage, kickoff return and coverage, kick block — but did not register any statistics.</p>
<p id="tQBoqL"><strong>LS Tucker Addington (UDFA):</strong> With usual long snapper Joe Cardona set to miss the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury, Addington was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of the game. He ended up playing eight snaps (32%) and his name was not called once — a positive sign for a player at his position.</p>
<p id="SqnUSk"><strong>WR/ST Raleigh Webb (UDFA):</strong> After seeing action in eight straight games since joining the Patriots, Webb was declared a healthy scratch on Saturday. Given that he is no core special teamer like Schooler or Mitchell, his status might be worth watching moving forward.</p>
<p id="nkJoJn"><strong>OL Kody Russey (UDFA):</strong> With the Patriots’ interior offensive line once again going wire-to-wire, Russey remained on the sideline throughout the game. The undrafted free agent out of Houston has yet to see any game action since his promotion to the active roster in November.</p>
<p id="OPGHVj">The Patriots’ rookie class extends beyond those 13 players. Offensive lineman Hayden Howerton, defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and defensive backs Brad Hawkins and Quandre Mosely are all on the practice squad. New England did not elevate any of them to the game-day team versus the Raiders, meaning that they all still have three standard elevations available.</p>
<p id="xWHGqG">Additionally, the Patriots have three rookie players on injury-related reserve lists. Sixth-round offensive lineman Chasen Hines remains on injured reserve despite being eligible to return; UDFA defensive lineman LaBryan Ray is still on the practice squad injury list.</p>
<p id="EYGoIs">Meanwhile, seventh-round offensive tackle Andrew Stueber has returned to practice but he remains on the non-football injury list for now.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/27/23528774/patriots-vs-bengals-week-16-rookie-review-marcus-jones-show-once-againBernd Buchmasser2022-12-27T06:00:00-05:002022-12-27T06:00:00-05:00Patriots vs. Bengals snap counts: Kendrick Bourne finally sees meaningful reps
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<img alt="Cincinnati Bengals v New England Patriots" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LQnY214H7QmJZfDJyv30OZMAnPY=/0x0:4006x2671/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71795598/1452227112.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/25/23525658/winners-losers-patriots-bengals-nfl-week-16">2 winners and 3 losers from the Patriots’ defeat to the Bengals</a></p> <p id="gNiQ0I">The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> lost another heartbreaker to the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a>, falling 22-18 on a late-game fumble. They are now 7-8 after the loss, and their playoff hopes are very much dependent on an ability to win their final two games of the season.</p>
<p id="f14iGt">Before looking ahead, however, let’s turn around and take a look at that Week 16 game to find out how New England used its players.</p>
<h2 id="ytwolc">Offense</h2>
<p id="UAAgsv"><em>Total snaps: 56</em></p>
<blockquote><p id="4uwzAo">QB Mac Jones* (56; 100%), LT Trent Brown* (56; 100%), LG Cole Strange* (56; 100%), C David Andrews* (56; 100%), RG Michael Onwenu* (56; 100%), RT Conor McDermott* (56; 100%), WR Jakobi Meyers* (56; 100%), WR Tyquan Thornton* (52; 93%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson* (51; 91%), TE Jonnu Smith* (32; 57%), WR Kendrick Bourne (32; 57%), TE Scotty Washington (22; 39%), WR Nelson Agholor (19; 34%), RB Kevin Harris (4; 7%), OT Yodny Cajuste (4; 7%), CB/WR Marcus Jones (3; 5%), TE Hunter Henry* (3; 5%), RB Pierre Strong Jr. (2; 4%)</p></blockquote>
<p id="OhPbBr"><em>*denotes starter</em></p>
<p id="7JAK8B">Mac Jones and the entire offense line continue to go the length for the Patriots. Yodny Cajuste did rotate in as a sixth offensive linemen four different times throughout the game. </p>
<p id="xHHYsN">Rhamondre Stevenson led all running backs in snaps with 51. Kevin Harris was behind him with four and Pierre Strong Jr. managed just two snaps despite some promising reps over the last two weeks. </p>
<p id="1AEgiw">Jakobi Meyers joined Jones and the offensive line in playing all 56 snaps, while Tyquan Thornton was right behind him with 52. Kendrick Bourne saw a prominent role with 32 snaps and made the most of them: he led the team with six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown while also gaining 29 yards on a run. Nelson Agholor, meanwhile, took a step back in terms of snaps and only managed 19.</p>
<p id="GShdZg">Jonnu Smith led the tight end group with 32 snaps before he left with a head injury in the fourth quarter. Scotty Washington was next in line with 22 after he was elevated from the practice squad. Hunter Henry was limited to just three snaps before injuring his knee on an in-route collision with Smith.</p>
<h2 id="c09bU5">Defense</h2>
<p id="OgLELo"><em>Total snaps: 83</em></p>
<blockquote><p id="HoFYNG">S Devin McCourty* (83; 100%), CB Jonathan Jones* (83; 100%), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley* (83; 100%), CB Marcus Jones* (75; 90%), S Kyle Dugger* (71; 86%), LB Matthew Judon* (68; 82%), CB Myles Bryant* (66; 80%), DE Deatrich Wise Jr.* (48; 58%), DT Lawrence Guy Sr.* (45; 54%), LB Jahlani Tavai* (43; 52%), DT Davon Godchaux* (43; 52%), LB Josh Uche (41; 49%), S Adrian Phillips (37; 45%), DT Daniel Ekuale (31; 37%), DT Christian Barmore (28; 34%), S Jabrill Peppers (26; 31%), LB Anfernee Jennings (23; 28%), DT Carl Davis Jr. (13; 16%), LB Raekwon McMillan (5; 6%), CB Shaun Wade (1; 1%)</p></blockquote>
<p id="EsiAas"><em>*denotes starter</em></p>
<p id="zGTTSw">The defensive line continues to see constant rotations with Deatrich Wise Jr. seeing the most work with 48 snaps. Lawrence Guy was right there with him as he played 45 snaps; Davon Godchaux logged 43 while Christian Barmore saw just 28 downs of work. </p>
<p id="tkP86D">Ja’Whaun Bentley played a season-high in snaps and did not leave the field; he was in for all 83 reps. Matthew Judon played 68 total snaps, which was also a new season-high for him. Jahlani Tavai and Josh Uche were out there about half of the time, with 43 and 41 downs played, respectively.</p>
<p id="5e2kIC">Jonathan Jones had another week where he played every single snap. Marcus Jones was able to play 75 of the possible 83 snaps — despite his contributions on offense and special teams. Myles Bryant was out there for 66 in the slot, while Shaun Wade managed one snap and was immediately beat for a touchdown. </p>
<p id="FwjcUo">Devin McCourty led all safeties again and played every snap, as he usually does. Kyle Dugger was close behind with 71 snaps. Adrian Phillips’ role was reduced as he was out there for just 37.</p>
<h2 id="ba6tvZ">Special Teams</h2>
<p id="wZM9al"><em>Total snaps: 25</em></p>
<blockquote><p id="ziGS6n">WR Matthew Slater (23; 92%), LB DaMarcus Mitchell (22; 88%), LB Jahlani Tavai (21; 84%), S Adrian Phillips (20; 80%), S Brenden Schooler (20; 80%), LB Raekwon McMillan (19; 76%), S Jabrill Peppers (18; 72%), LB Mack Wilson Sr. (18; 72%), RB Pierre Strong Jr. (10; 40%), CB/KR/PR Marcus Jones (9; 36%), CB Jonathan Jones (9; 36%), DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (8; 32%), LB Anfernee Jennings (8; 32%), P Michael Palardy (8; 32%), LS Tucker Addington (8; 32%), S Kyle Dugger (7; 28%), DT Carl Davis Jr. (7; 28%), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (6; 24%), CB Myles Bryant (5; 20%), DT Daniel Ekuale (5; 20%), TE Jonnu Smith (4; 16%), K Tristan Vizcaino (4; 16%), G Cole Strange (2; 8%), OT Conor McDermott (2; 8%), G Michael Onwenu (2; 8%), OT Trent Brown (2; 8%), LB Josh Uche (2; 8%), K Nick Folk (2; 8%), C James Ferentz (2; 8%), WR Kendrick Bourne (1; 4%), TE Hunter Henry (1; 4%)</p></blockquote>
<p id="YxOaZH">Matthew Slater led all special teamers with 23 snaps. DaMarcus Mitchell was right on his tail with 22. Brenden Schooler is usually right there with them, but he dealt with an injury which caused him to miss a few plays and log 20 reps. </p>
<p id="ZBpiCF">Tucker Addington is the new long snapper in lieu of Joe Cardona, and he did his job in the eight snaps he played. Tristan Vizcaino also managed four snaps, and handled the kickoff duties.</p>
<h2 id="RMqpTB">Did not play</h2>
<blockquote><p id="9muU0E">QB Bailey Zappe, OL Kody Russey</p></blockquote>
<p id="i86w8Q">Bailey Zappe was not needed yet again but the fans in Gillette were calling for him at times, with the score seemingly getting out of hand in the first half. Kody Russey also failed to see the field again and is an emergency option. </p>
<h2 id="hIhSjR">Inactive</h2>
<blockquote><p id="f97XHy">RB Damien Harris, WR DeVante Parker, WR Raleigh Webb, DL Sam Roberts, CB Jalen Mills, CB Jack Jones, FS Joshuah Bledsoe</p></blockquote>
<p id="Ek2t5x">Damien Harris continues to miss time with a lingering thigh injury and was held out of this one despite some initial optimism he might be good to go. DeVante Parker missed again with a concussion suffered in Week 14. Raleigh Webb is listed as a wide receiver but is primarily a special teamer, but he was inactive for this one. </p>
<p id="244O0X">Sam Roberts continues to be a healthy scratch on the defensive line, while Jalen Mills and Jack Jones each missed again with injuries of their own. Joshuah Bledsoe was also a healthy scratch with the safety room being at full strength.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/27/23527045/patriots-vs-bengals-week-16-snap-counts-bourneBarrettHodgson2022-12-26T17:54:44-05:002022-12-26T17:54:44-05:00Patriots quarterback Mac Jones addresses low hit on Bengals’ Eli Apple
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<img alt="NFL: Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rLmai2TIC6b4VBBm7MFjwiFIaVs=/55x676:4186x3430/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71794744/usa_today_19678334.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-social-media-video-podcasts/2022/12/25/23525908/quarterback-mac-jones-accused-of-dirty-play-patriots-loss-to-bengals">Quarterback Mac Jones again accused of dirty play after Patriots’ loss to Bengals</a></p> <p id="mA8GrR"><a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> quarterback Mac Jones has been at the center of attention for his low hit on Bengals’ cornerback Eli Apple on Saturday — a play that Apple deemed <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-social-media-video-podcasts/2022/12/25/23525908/quarterback-mac-jones-accused-of-dirty-play-patriots-loss-to-bengals">“dirty”</a> postgame.</p>
<p id="2zc1Zg">After an apparent fumble with 6:18 remaining in the fourth quarter was returned by Bengals’ linebacker Germaine Pratt, Tyquan Thornton and Jones were the lone Patriots left to chase him down. As Jones’ hopes of catching him were slim, the quarterback dropped to the ground in front of Apple — who was also chasing the play from behind.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not sure about this move from Mac Jones. <a href="https://t.co/NlXdkknko8">pic.twitter.com/NlXdkknko8</a></p>— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelFhurley/status/1606754556209238018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="QN1G64">Making his weekly appearance on WEEI, Jones addressed the play and explained that there was no intent to injuring Apple.</p>
<p id="Q5VwtT">“I went down in front of him to kind of get in the way to stop him from slowing down Tyquan, who obviously could make the tackle there,” he said. “So, just kind of went down in front of him, trying to stop a fast guy from getting to another fast guy. It’s a split-second decision and there’s a lot that goes into it. You’re out there trying to compete, and it’s a physical game. So just trying to help the team win.</p>
<p id="guq90o">“I have all the respect for Eli and the Bengals. They played a great game. So, there’s no hard feelings and definitely no intention to hurt anybody on that play. Nor do I believe that when I’m playing quarterback, that’s what [the defense is intending to do]. I get hit a lot, too. We’re all out there playing hard. It’s just part of the game.”</p>
<p id="9BlliA">The return did not even count, however, as referee Craig Wrolstad blew the play dead and ruled it an incomplete pass.</p>
<p id="9hhyIM">“No,” Jones said when asked if he knew the play was blown dead. “Honestly was just playing the play, I saw Tyquan running, and we were running to get him. At that point you got to play the play, play it all the way through, because you don’t know what’s happening — if they’re going to review it, if they’re not going to review it. So just had to play it through and try to make the right play and slow everything down.”</p>
<p id="MFWQL1">The play is now being reviewed by the league as part of their on-field code of conduct for players. Jones is <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1607410484659245056?s=20&t=Aujv9Xo0ilMIBHibffQS-A">expected to receive a fine</a> for his actions, but a suspension is likely out of the picture.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/26/23527210/patriots-quarterback-mac-jones-addresses-low-hit-bengals-eli-appleBrian Hines2022-12-26T15:42:08-05:002022-12-26T15:42:08-05:00Report: Patriots TE Hunter Henry considered day-to-day with knee injury
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<img alt="Indianapolis Colts v New England Patriots" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5BYzgGlX5wQIbWwydkK3mUpZvSE=/1006x0:5907x3267/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71794517/1440312332.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Related:</strong> <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/26/23526562/patriots-vs-bengals-week-16-injury-analysis-henry-smith">Patriots vs. Bengals injury analysis: New England’s tight end group takes a hit in Week 16</a></p> <p id="iFynlz">Hunter Henry left the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a>’ loss to the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> on Christmas Eve after just three snaps and did not return, but it appears the veteran tight end might have dodged a bullet. According to a <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1607460870757691392">report</a> by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Henry is considered day-to-day and has a chance to play against Miami this week.</p>
<p id="yssSEq">Henry suffered a knee injury on the Patriots’ first series of the day. He collided with fellow tight end Jonnu Smith on an unsuccessful third down, and left the game as a result. While originally announced as questionable to come back, he was ruled out at halftime.</p>
<p id="SLyHxF">The 28-year-old has been New England’s No. 1 tight end this season, both in terms of playing time and production. He has been on the field for 72.4 percent of offensive snaps through 15 games — compared to Smith’s 45.8 — and caught 30 passes for 415 yards and a pair of touchdowns.</p>
<p id="UbL3C1">After he left the game against Cincinnati, the Patriots turned to Smith as their tight end of choice. However, he himself left the contest later with a head injury; practice squad elevatee Scotty Washington resumed duties from that point on.</p>
<p id="6Dhrd8">Smith’s status is uncertain at this point in time, but at least it appears Henry has a shot to take the field this week.</p>
<p id="UNXYJI">New England will play a must-win game against the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> on Sunday; a loss and the team is eliminated from playoff contention. Kickoff at Gillette Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET.</p>
https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/12/26/23526738/hunter-henry-injury-update-patriots-day-to-day-knee-injuryBernd Buchmasser